Apparatus for cleaning utensils or the like

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cleaning utensils or the like, especially for cleaning laboratory utensils, wherein at least one carrier frame or rack for receiving the articles to be cleaned is provided and wherein the articles can be treated by different treatment liquids which are infed via a nozzle system. The nozzle system is successively connected in flow communication with separate conduits for the infeed of the different treatment liquids.

D United States Patent 1191 [11] 3,856,572 Hildebrand Dec. 24, 1974APPARATUS FOR CLEANHNG UTENSILS 2,561,631 7/1951 Ncgri 134/96 X OR THELIKE 2.575.493 ll/l95l Hillikcr 3,070,104 12/1962 Faust ct ill, [75]Inventor: Eduard Hildebrand, Aadorf, 3,242,934 3/1966 Hum/Cl HSwitzerland 3,690,333 9 1972 Kicrner 1. 134 103 x [73] Assignee: Ed.Hildebrand lng. AG, Aadorf,

Swltzerland Primary Examiner-R0bert L. Bleutge 22 Filed; Jam 2 1973Attorney, Agent, or FirmCraig & Antonelli [21] Appl. No.: 327,162

' 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan 27, 1972Switzerland 1202/72 An apparatus for Cleaning utensils or the like, p

cially for cleaning laboratory utensils, wherein at least 521 US. Cl134/96, 134/98, 134/103, ene earner frame or reek fer receiving thearticles to 134/131 be cleaned is provided and wherein the articles canbe [51] Int. Cl B081) 3/02 treated y different t atm nt liquids whichare infed [58] Field of Search l34/9699, via a nozzle system The nozzlesystem is successively 134/103 131 connected in flow communication withseparate conduits for the infeed of the different treatment liquids.[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures$471,506 5/1949 Wiswall 134/98 PATENTEI] DEC 2 41974 SHEET 10F 7 mmwmmmN m: m

PATENIED BECZ 4 B74 SHEH Q W 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to a new and improved apparatus for cleaning articles,such as utensils or the like, especially laboratory utensils, with theaid of at least one carrier frame or rack for housing the articles whichare to be cleaned, these articles are treated by different treatmentliquids infed via a nozzle system. The invention also concerns a methodof operating this apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present inventionto provide an improved construction of apparatus and method of operatingthe same, for the cleaning of articles, such as utensils or the like bymeans of which it is possible to carry out in the same treatmentcompartment a random number of different treatment operations.

Another object of the present invention relates to a new and improvedconstruction of apparatus for cleaning articles, such as utensils or thelike, especially laboratory utensils, in an extremely efficient,reliable and economical manner, wherein the apparatus itself isrelatively simple in design, extremely reliable in operation, notreadily subject to breakdown and requires a minimum of maintenance andservicing.

Now in order to implement these and still further ob jects of theinvention which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the aforementioned nozzle system can be successively connectedin flow communication with a number of separate conduits for the infeedof the different treatment liquids.

It is a further object of this invention to prevent mixing of thedifferent treatment liquids, such as the washing and flushing liquids.

To this end the apparatus of thisdevelopment preferably incorporates atleast one container for a treatment liquid, such as the washing orflushing liquid, and furthermore a collecting basin or vessel forreceiving the treatment liquid present in the treatment compartment, andthe outlet or drain of which can be selectively connected in flowcommunication with one of the containers for the treatment liquid, suchas the washing liquid or the flushing liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates in longitudinal sectional view a first embodiment ofapparatus designed according to the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coupling mechanism for the apparatusof FIG. 1, also depicting a carrier frame or rack for the articles to becleaned;

FIG. 3 illustrates in side view and partially in longitudinal sectionalview the coupling mechanism depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling mechanism, takensubstantially along the line IVIV of FIG.

FIG. 5 depicts in longitudinal sectional view a modifled form ofapparatus for cleaning utensils or the like;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus construction of FIG.5, taken substantially along the line VIVI thereof;

FIG. 7 is a crosssectional view of the apparatus dcpicted in FIG. 6,taken substantially along the line VII- VII thereof;

FIG. 8 is a crosssectional view of the apparatus dcpicted in FIG. 6,taken substantially along the line Vlll- VIII thereof;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 5,through a multipath valve as same is employed with the apparatusconstructions of this development; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the fragmentary sectional view depicted inFIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawings, the exemplary embodiment of cleaning apparatus depicted inFIG. 1 will be understood to comprise a housing 1, at the upper regionof which there is located a cleaning compartment or chamber 2. Anendless conveyor band 3 or other suitable transport mechanism extendsthrough the cleaning compartment 2. This conveyor band 3 can beappropriately driven by any suitable and therefore not particularlyillustrated drive mechanism, such as a drive motor driving one of theconveyor wheels 3a. The conveyor band 3 extends forwardly and rearwardlypast the cleaning compartment 2, and therefore forms a deposit orloading station 4 and a removal or withdrawal station 5. The treatedarticles of materials, for instance laboratory utensils, are housed atcarrier frames or racks. In FIG. 1 these carrier frames or racks 26 havebeen indicated in phantom lines.

The cleaning compartment 2 possesses at the region of the path of travelof the conveyor band 3 an inlet or infeed opening 6 and an outlet ordeparture opening 7 for the treated articles and is closed at its bottomby a collecting basin or receptacle 8. At both sides of the collectingbasin 8 there bounds a respective container 9 and 10 for a respectivetreatment liquid. An additional container 11 is located adjacent thecontainer 10. This additional container 11 serves to handle a furthertreatment liquid. The container 9 which bounds at one side of thecollecting basin 8 serves to receive a washing liquid and the container10 bounding at the other side of the collecting basin 8 serves toreceive a flushing liquid. The further container 11 serves for receivingdemineralized water.

An infeed conduit or line 30 opens into the container 11 for the infeedof such demineralized water. The water infeed is controlled by a float31 or equivalent structure.

At the lower region of the collecting basin 8 there is arranged amultipath slide valve arrangement 32 with which there are coupled threeconductors or lines 33, 34 and 35. This multipath valve arrangement ormechanism 32 can selectively assume a closed position or can flowcommunicate the collecting basin 8 with any one of the three lines orconduits 33, 34 and 35. As a result.

the collecting basin 8 can be connected in flow communication via theconduit 33 with the outflow or drain collecting line or conduit 15, orvia the conduit 34 opening into the container 9 with the interior ofsuch container 9, or via the conduit 35 opening into the container 10with the interior of such container 10.

Each container 9, 10 and 11 is connected via its own outflow or drainline 12, 13 and 14 respectively, with the drain collecting conduit 15which removes the treatment liquids out of the cleaning apparatus. Forcontrolling the flow through the outflow or drain lines each drain lineor conduit l2, l3 and 14 is equipped with a control valve 16, I7 and 18respectively. At the region of the floor of each container 9, 10 and 11there is located a pump 19, 20 and 21 respectively. At the pressure sideof each pump 19, 20 and 21 there is connected a pressure line or conduit22, 23 and 24 respectively, through which there can be delivered intothe cleaning compartment 2 the treatment liquid which is momentarilylocated in each respective container 9, l0 and 11. The pressure conduitsor lines 22, 23 and 24 terminate at a component or portion 25 of acoupling mechanism 27, this component 25 being fixed to the housing, andthus will be referred to as the stationary housing fixed component orportion 25. The coupling mechanism 27 is composed of the stationaryhousing fixed portion 25 and a movable coupling portion or component 28which is fixedly connected with a carrier frame or rack 26 for thearticles to be handled.

The stationary housing fixed coupling portion 25 of the couplingmechanism 27 is located in the cleaning compartment 2, therefore isarranged at the central region of the path which is traversed by theconveyor band 3 within such compartment and somewhat beneath thetransport or conveying run 3b of such conveyor band 3. In addition tothe already mentioned three pressure conduits or lines 22, 23 and 24there also merges with the stationary housing fixed portion or component25 of the coupling mechanism 27 a pressure line or conduit 29 for freshwater inorder to be able to carry out a pre-flushing operation. All ofthe four pressure conduits or lines 22, 23, 24 and 29, viewed in thethroughpassage direction of the transport or conveyor band 3, open in arow, at a spacing behind one another, into the stationary housing fixedportion 25.

On the basis of the showing of FIGS. 2 to 4 inclusive there now will bedescribed in greater detail the coupling mechanism 27. The stationaryhousing fixed coupling portion 25 possesses a horizontally extendingrail 36'which, in cross-section, has the configuration of a sharpcornered C, as shown, wherein the longitudinal or elongate slot oropening 37 of the rail 36 is located at the top. Internally of the rail36 there are located contact or pressure ledges 39 beneath legs 38bounding the longitudinally extending slot 37.. These contact orpressure ledges 39 are mounted to be vertically displaceable at the legs38 by means of attachment or fixing pins 40 and can be urged away fromthe legs 38 by the action of springs 41.

Each carrier frame or rack 26 for the articles to be treated possesses amovable coupling portion 28 which cooperates with the stationary housingfixed coupling portion 25. The movable coupling portion 28 is located atthe lower region of the associated carrier frame or rack 26. As bestseen by referring to FIG. 2 the rack or frame fixed movable couplingportion 28 is in the form of an elongate body member having asubstantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

The carrier frame or rack 26 furthermore possesses a conduit systemessentially consisting of a collecting pipe or conduit 42 at which mergenozzle conduits or nozzles 43 and from which conduit 42 there verticallydownwardly extends an infeed conduit or pipe 44. The infeed conduit 44is fixedly inserted or seated at the coupling portion 28 andcommunicates with an aligned throughpassage or opening 45 which extendsvertically through coupling portion 28 and forms at the under or lowerside of the coupling portion 28 an inlet opening 46 for the treatmentliquids.

In the showing of FIGS. 3 and 4 the rack or frame fixed movable couplingportion 28 has been depicted introduced into the housing fixed couplingportion 25 and both coupling portions are in operable engagement withone another. The coupling portion 28 possesses such a cross-sectionalconfiguration that it can be introduced into the interior of the rail 36of the stationary housing fixed coupling portion or component 25 anddisplaceably guided therein. The spring loaded ledges or rails 39thereby push the frame fixed coupling portion 28 against the floor 47 ofthe rail 36.

As best seen by referring to FIG. 3, the ends of the pressure lines orpipes 29, 22, 23 and 24 are inserted into the floor of the stationaryhousing fixed coupling portion 25 and open into outlet or outflowopenings 48, 49, 50 and 51 respectively, formed at the aforementionedfloor, and with each of which outlets there can be brought intoalignment the inlet 46 to the conduit system of the relevant carrierframe or rack. Viewed in the direction of movement of the carrier frameor rack 26 the sequence of the outlets connected with the pressure lines29, 22, 23 and 24 is such that following the outlet 48 for the freshwater for the pre-flushing operation, there is located the outlet 49 forthe washing liquid, and following such the outlet 50 for the flushingliquid, and following the latter the outlet 51 for the demineralizedwater for the post-flushing operation.

At the upper region of the cleaning compartment 2 there are locatedhousing fixed nozzle tubes 52 with downwardly directed nozzles 520. Ineach case a number of tubes 52 are connected in flow communication withone of the pressure conduits or lines 29, 22, 23 and 24.

The mode of operation of the described cleaning apparatus is as follows:

The articles to be cleaned, for instance laboratory utensils, such asglasses and Petri dishes, are appropriately inserted into or onto acarrier frame or rack 26, preferably in such a manner that the nozzlesof the nozzle tubes 52 spray into the interior of the utensils and therack 26 is placed upon the conveyor band 3 at the loading or depositstation 4. The conveyor band 3 stepwise transfers the rack or carrierframe 26 into the cleaning compartment 2 to assume the position Aindicated with phantom lines in FIG. 7. In so doing, the rack fixedcoupling portion 28 is introduced into the stationary housing fixedcoupling portion 25 and is located in a first locking or engagedposition in which the inlet 46 of the conduit system 42, 43, 44 of therack 26 is in alignment with the outlet 48 of the fresh water pressureconduit 29. There is then opened the fresh water source and fresh waterflows through the conduit 29 and the coupling mechanism 27 into thenozzle conduits or nozzles 43 of the rack and into the nozzle tubes 52operatively associated with the conduit 29 and out of each of suchnozzles in the direction of the articles to be cleaned. The water whichflows-off into the collecting basin 8 is conducted to the draincollecting line or conduit 15 through the agency of the multipath valvemechanism 32 and the withdrawal or drain conduit 33. After apredetermined period of time has elapsed the infeed of fresh water isinterrupted, and the conveyor band 3 further indexes or advances by onestep the rack 26 into the position indicated by reference character Bwhere the frame fixed coupling portion 28 assumes the position depictedin FIG. 3.

The pump 19 is placed into operation and the multipath valve mechanism32 is reversed in order to free the flow path from the collecting basin8 via the conduit 34 into the container 9 in which there is located thewashing liquid. Now the washing liquid is conveyed in a circulatoryfashion through the conduit 22 into the nozzle tubes or nozzles 43 ofthe conduit system of the rack and into a number of the nozzle tubes 52and emanates from the nozzles thereof in the direction of the articlesto be cleaned and is sprayed thereagainst.

After a predetermined period of time has expired the pump 19 isshut-off. The frame or rack 26 is displaced into the position indicatedby reference character C, in which the frame fixed coupling portion 28is located with its inlet 46 above the outlet 50 of the pressure conduit23. The multipath valve mechanism 32 is again switched or reversed inorder to free the flow path from the collecting basin 8 via the conduit35 into the container 10, and now the pump 20 is switched-on. Theflushing liquid located in container 10 is then conveyed in acirculatory fashion through the conduit or line 23 into the nozzle tube43 of the rack 26 and into a number of nozzle tubes 52 and sprayed fromthese nozzles against the articles. After a predetermined period of timehas again elapsed the pump 20 is shut-off. The carrier frame or rack 26is now displaced into the position indicated by reference character D,in which the frame fixed coupling portion 28 is located by means of itsinlet 46 over the outlet 51 of the pressure conduit 24. Now, the pump isswitched-on. The multipath valve mechanism 32 remains in its setposition.

The post-flushing liquid located in the container 11 and consisting ofdemineralized water is then sprayed in a pulse-like manner through theconduit or line 24 in the same manner as above described against thearticles. The infeed of water to the container 11 occurs via the inflowconduit 30 and is controlled by the float 31. The water flowing down outof the cleaning compartment 2 flows from the collecting basin 8 into thecontainer 10.

After the expiration of a further period of time the pump 21 is placedout of operation, the multipath valve mechanism 32 is switched into itsstarting position and the rack 26 is stepwise advanced towards theremoval station 5, where the rack is loaded-off the conveyor band 3.

In the meantime a further rack or carrier frame 26 has been stepwiseadvanced into the cleaning compartment 2 and the described operationsbegin anew.

During operation the non-utilized outlets of the pressure conduits orlines 29, 22, 23 and 24 are always covered by the frame fixed couplingportion or component 28.

The cleaning apparatus depicted in FIGS. and inclusive possesses ahousing 200, at the upper region of which there is located a cleaningcompartment or chamber 102. Extending through the lower end of thecleaning compartment 102 is an endless conveyor band 103 or equivalentstructure which is driven through the agency of a drive mechanism havinga drive motor 99 and a belt or chain drive 98 via a belt or chain 97.The conveyor band 103 extends at both ends past the cleaning compartment102 and therefore, similar to the embodiment previously discussed, formsat one end a loading or infeed station 104 and at the other end aremoval or load-off station 105 for the carrier frames or racks 106 inwhich there can be housed the articles or utensils to be cleaned. Therack 106 can be conveyed via an inlet opening 107 into the confines ofthe cleaning compartment 102 and can be again removed therefrom throughthe agency of an outlet or exit opening 108. In so doing, the rack 106bears upon straps or brackets 109, which extend towards one another andtransversely with respect to the conveying direction of the articles.These brackets 109 and 110 are arranged at parallel bracket or strapbands 111 and 112 respectively, which form the conveyor band 103, asbest seen by referring to FIG. 6.

The cleaning compartment 102 is closed at the lower end by a collectingbasin or receptacle 113, at the lowermost end of which there is locatedan outflow or withdrawal channel 114 which can be pivoted or rocked bymeans of a transmission motor 113, the withdrawal channel 114 beingpivotable into three positions about a vertical axis or shaft, again asbest seen by referring to FIG. 6.

The cleaning compartment 102 possesses a nozzle system which is mountedto be stationary therein, this nozzle system encompassing a verticalinfeed conduit 115 (FIGS. 5 and 8) extending laterally of the cleaningcompartment and at the top and bottom the respective horizontallyextending conduit arrangements 118 and 119 equipped with nozzles 116 and117 respectively. A pump 120 is operatively connected with the infeedconduit or line 115. Pump 120 can be driven by a drive motor 121. Thesuction side of this pump flow communicates via a channel 122 (FIG. 10)with an outlet compartment or space 123 of a multipath valve arrangementconstructed as a plate valve and generally designated in FIG. 5 byreference character 124. The plate valve 124 has been shown in detail inFIGS. 9 and 10 and will be described with greater particularity inconjunction with these Figures. The plate valve 124, depending upon itssetting or position, flow communicates the infeed line or conduit 115with one of six conduits 125, 126, 127, 128, 129 and 130 (FIGS. 9 and10), which lead to the containers for the different cleaning liquids,namely to the three circulating containers 131, 132 and 133 for thepre-washing liquid, washing liquid and flushing liquid respectively, aswell as to three fresh water containers 134, 135 and 136, and which canbe selectively heated or not heated.

The plate valve 124 depicted in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10 will be seen toencompass a valve plate having an eccentric valve opening orthroughpassage 141 with a diameter essentially corresponding to thediameter of the conduits 125 to 130. This valve plate 140 is centrallyseated upon a shaft 142 which is rotatably mounted via the bearings 144,145 in a housing fixed tube 143 and can be driven by means of a spurgear 146 from a non-illustrated indexing or stepping drive.

The housing fixed conduit or tube 143 carries at its lower end aplate-shaped valve seat 147. Valve seat 147 is equipped with circular orround throughpassage openings 148 to 153 which are arranged at a uniformperipheral spacing about the housing fixed tube 143. Into thesethroughpassage openings 148 to 153 there open the outlet ends of theconduits 125 to 130. The valve throughpassage 141 in the valve plate 140possesses approximately the same diameter as the openings 148 to 153 inthe valve seat 147 and is also arranged like such along the same circle.Sealing rings 154 formed of tetrofluroethylene, briefly known in the artas TEFLON rings, are inserted into the openings 148 to 153 from the sideconfronting the valve plate, and such rings engage by means of theircollars 155 over the edge of the associated openings. The arrangement ofthe valve plate 140, shaft 142 and spur gear 146 is biased against thecollars 155 of the TEFLON rings 154 by means of a compression orpressure spring 156 which is supported at the underside of the housingand guided upon guide bolts 157. The pre-bias of the spring 156 iscalculated such and the mutually sliding surfaces of the TEFLON rings154 and the valve plate 140 are machined or worked such that there isattained a sliding seal between the valve plate and the TEFLON rings.

As a result, there is realized that in each instance liquid can onlyarrive from one of the conduits 125 to 130 at the outlet compartment 123of the valve when the relevant conduit at least is partially overlappedby the valve throughpassage or through-flow opening 141 in the valveplate 140.

Now a drying compartment or chamber 160 is arranged in the conveyingdirection of the conveyor band 103 (arrow X of FIG. behind or downstreamof the cleaning compartment 102.

Further components of the apparatus will be considered in conjunctionwith the following description of the mode of operation of theequipment.

Initially a rack or carrier frame 106 which is filled with the articlesor utensils to be cleaned is introduced via the inlet or infeed opening107 into the cleaning compartment 102. Both the inlet opening 107 aswell as also the outlet or exit opening 108 are subsequentlyautomatically closed by an automatically operating closure mechanism,for instance roller curtains 171 and 172 respectively, which areactuated via a drive mechanism 173.

The cleaning operations occur in succession in the following manner:

From one of the containers, for instance the prewashing container 131there is sucked-up by means of the pump 120 and via the conduit 125pre-washing liquid and such is delivered via the infeed conduit 115 tothe nozzles 116, 117 in the cleaning compartment 102, which then spraythe pre-washing liquid against the articles or utensils to be cleaned.The pre-washing liquid is recirculated via the collecting basin 113 andthe pivotal withdrawal or drain channel 114 arranged therebelow backinto the pre-washing container 131. Owing to this circulatory flow thecleaning process can be maintained for a random long period of timewithout having to introduce further liquid. After a pre-programmedperiod of time has elapsed, the pump 120 is switched off and thereforethis phase of the cleaning is likewise terminated. After appropriatelyswitching or reversing the plate valve 124 a fresh water container isconnected in flow communication with the valve outlet compartment 123.

The pump now sucks-up fresh water which, in the manner heretoforedescribed, is sprayed upon the utensils. The withdrawal or drain channel114 assumes the same position as during pre-washing, so that the freshwater flows back into the prewashing container 131 and regenerates thepre-washing water. From the pre-washing container 131 the excess waterflows into an overflow tank 175 (FIG. 5) from which location it canflow-off via an outlet or drain 176. The prewashing container 131 is inflow communication with the drain 176 via a normally closed drain oroutflow valve 177. After the post-flushing operation the plate valve 124is switched such that it provides a connection of the inflow conduit 115with the washing container 132. The outflow channel 114 is shifted orrocked over the washing container 132.

There now occurs the actual washing operation in which water is sprayedfrom the heated washing container 132 upon the articles to be cleanedand again caught in the washing container. Into the washing container132 there is automatically infed or dosed a washing agent or detergent.The valve throughflow or throughpassage opening 141 of the plate valve124 is switched so it is now in flow connection with one of the heatedfresh water containers wherein, however, the outflow channel 114 remainsin position over the washing container 132. There is now undertaken ahot or warm post-flushing operation and the outflowing postflushingwater is conducted back into the washing container 132.

Thereafter, the plate valve 124 is rocked or pivoted in such a mannerthat it provides flow communication of the flushing container 133 withthe infeed conduit 115, wherein also the outflow or drain channel isrocked into position over the flushing container. Thereafter, there isagain undertaken a hot or warm postflushing operation, similar to thatwhich follows the washing operation, by again switching the plate valve124.

Following the described treatment operations and after automaticallyraising the roller curtain 172 the rack 106 is transferred from thecleaning compartment 102 into the drying compartment or chamber 160.

After completion of the drying operation the rack is conveyed out of thedrying compartment to the removal or unloading station 105 where thefinished flushed and dried articles are removed from the rack.

In the meantime a further rack which has been filled with the articlesto be cleaned has been introduced into the cleaning compartment orchamber 102 and at the same time as there occurs the drying operationthere also occurs again the described pre-washing-, washingand flushingoperations.

Instead of using only one cleaning compartment it would also be possibleto provide a number of tandemly arranged cleaning compartments with anozzle system.

Furthermore, the plate valve could be replaced by a valve set or groupof valves, wherein each container would have associated therewith onevalve or valve arrangement which is located at the relevant infeed of acontainer to the pump.

With the described exemplary embodiments there are under-taken threetreatment steps, namely prewashing, washingand flushing as a function ofthe number of containers. However, it would also be readily possible toprovide a larger or small number of containers and accordingly to carryout a greater number or lesser number of treatment steps.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims. ACCORD- lNGLY,

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning articles, such as utensils or the like,especially laboratory utensils, said apparatus comprising:

at least one rack for receiving articles to be cleaned,

a nozzle system for delivering different treatment liquids for thetreatment of the articles,

separate conduits for the infeed of the different treatment liquids,said separate conduits having respec tive outlets,

means for successively connecting said nozzle system with said separateconduits,

wherein said nozzle system comprises a conduit system arranged at therack and spray nozzles supplied by said conduit system,

means defining a cleaning compartment,

a conveyor mechanism for stepwise moving the rack through the cleaningcompartment, and

an inlet for said conduit system arranged at the rack such that duringthe conveying movement of the rack said inlet is successively connectedin flow communication with respective outlets of the separate conduits,

wherein the outlets of the separate conduits, viewed in the direction ofmovement of the conveyor mechanism, are arranged in a row behind oneanother at a first stationary coupling portion, and the inlet for theconduit system is arranged at a second coupling portion fixedly mountedat an associated movable rack such that said second coupling portion iscapable of being brought into operable engagement with the firstcoupling portion and is displacable relative thereto in order tosuccessively flow communicate the inlet with one of the outlets at thefirst coupling portion.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first couplingportion is located in a path of movement of the second coupling portionand in the engaged position the second coupling portion is displaceablyheld at the first coupling portion.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein out lets which aremomentarily not connected in flow communication with the inlet aredirectly covered by the second coupling portion.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including:

means defining a treatment compartment for the arti cles,

a collecting basin for receiving treatment liquid from the treatmentcompartment, said collecting basin having a discharge, and

connecting means for selectively connecting the discharge of thecollecting basin with one of a plurality of containers, each containerbeing provided for accommodating a respective treatment liquid. =i =l =l

1. An apparatus for cleaning articles, such as utensils or the like,especially laboratory utensils, said apparatus comprising: at least onerack for receiving articles to be cleaned, a nozzle system fordelivering different treatment liquids for the treatment of thearticles, separate conduits for the infeed of the different treatmentliquids, said separate conduits having respective outlets, means forsuccessively connecting said nozzle system with said separate conduits,wherein said nozzle system comprises a conduit system arranged at therack and spray nozzles supplied by said conduit system, means defining acleaning compartment, a conveyor mechanism for stepwise moving the rackthrough the cleaning compartment, and an inlet for said conduit systemarranged at the rack such that during the conveying movement of the racksaid inlet is successively connected in flow communication withrespective outlets of the separate conduits, wherein the outlets of theseparate conduits, viewed in the direction of movement of the conveyormechanism, are arranged in a row behind one another at a firststationary coupling portion, and the inlet for the conduit system isarranged at a second coupling portion fixedly mounted at an associatedmovable rack such that said second coupling portion is capable of beingbrought into operable engagement with the first coupling portion and isdisplacable relative thereto in order to successively flow communicatethe inlet with one of the outlets at the first coupling portion.
 2. Theapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first coupling portion islocated in a path of movement of the second coupling portion and in theengaged position the second coupling portion is displaceably held at thefirst coupling portion.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinoutlets which are momentarily not connected in flow communication withthe inlet are directly covered by the second coupling portion.
 4. Theapparatus as defined in claim 1, further including: means defining atreatment compartment for the articles, a collecting basin for receivingtreatment liquid from the treatment compartment, said collecting basinhaving a discharge, and connecting means for selectively connecting thedischarge of the collecting basin with one of a plurality of containers,each container being provided for accommodating a respective treatmentliquid.